- IBM’s Consulting division has over 150,000 workers; the company has not given an affected-worker count.
- IBM applied for over 1,100 H-1B visas in Fiscal Year 2026, not all tied to Consulting.
- The White House announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions in 2025.
IBM said on November 10, 2026, that it will end U.S. visa and green card sponsorship for a majority of certain roles in IBM Consulting. The decision does not cover every role at the company.
An internal document shared with Consulting managers describes two options for affected workers: continue working for IBM outside the United States or leave at the end of 2026. That is separate from the reported departure option.
Employees and candidates who need employer sponsorship should ask whether their particular role and immigration case are covered. No universal outcome for current workers follows from the announcement alone.
The announcement covers a majority of roles, not the whole division
IBM’s statement refers to U.S. high-skilled visa programs and sponsorship for most roles within the affected group. The company has not provided a complete list of job titles, exceptions or immigration programs covered.
H-1B sponsorship and PERM applications have been identified in descriptions of the decision. IBM’s statement, however, does not confirm that these make up a complete list. PERM, the Permanent Labor Certification process, is a step toward employment-based green cards.
The distinction is important for workers assessing their own cases. A role in Consulting is not, by itself, confirmation that the position is included; nor does the announcement establish an exemption for any particular job or employee.
Consulting has over 150,000 workers, but that is the size of the division, not the number of people affected. IBM has not supplied a count of covered workers.
The end-of-2026 departure option described in an internal document is not a stated policy effective date.
IBM has not set out a start date or case-by-case rules
The announcement date alone does not establish a deadline for workers or candidates.
IBM also has not explained what will happen to existing H-1B holders or workers with green card cases in progress. A request for clarification specifically addressed workers on current H-1Bs who may no longer be able to pursue a green card through their role.
The announcement does not say that current visas are canceled or that pending applications are automatically withdrawn. It also does not establish whether a particular worker can transfer to another IBM position or qualify for an overseas role.
Current employees with an ongoing case should get IBM’s answer for their own circumstances rather than treating the division-wide announcement as a decision on an individual immigration status. Candidates should seek confirmation before assuming that sponsorship will be available for a specific opening.
An internal document describes two paths for affected workers
The document shared with Consulting managers describes these alternatives for impacted employees:
- Continue working for IBM in a role outside the United States.
- Leave the company at the end of 2026.
The document does not establish which employees qualify for an overseas position or spell out relocation terms, timing or conditions. Nor does the year-end option establish when the sponsorship policy itself starts.
Those distinctions leave individual questions open. A worker considering an international move needs to confirm whether IBM has a position available, where it would be based and how the transition would work. The described options should not be read as a guarantee that every affected employee can relocate.
IBM cites changing skills and client needs
IBM said the division has relied on high-skilled visa programs to address skill shortages, but participation has declined. The company connected its decision to changes in skill availability and client demand.
“That participation has been declining for a number of years and as skill availability and client need have evolved, we have opted to discontinue visa and green card sponsorship for the majority of such roles in IBM Consulting.”
The company’s application volume gives some context, but not a count of affected workers. U.S. Department of Labor data show IBM applied for over 1,100 H-1B visas in Fiscal Year 2026. The figure is not limited to Consulting and does not show how many workers may have pursued permanent residence.
The announcement also comes amid broader changes to employment-based immigration. In October 2026, the administration suspended Microsoft, Adobe and several other companies from the PERM process. The suspension was separate from IBM’s decision and does not establish that IBM was suspended or that the action caused its policy change. The named companies included Cognizant, Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services.
The White House announced a one-time $100,000 fee on new H-1B petitions in 2025. That government action is separate from IBM’s sponsorship decision; the fee is not an amount IBM has told affected workers to pay.
Workers and candidates need answers tied to their own roles
Employees and applicants can take these questions to IBM or the relevant recruiting contact:
- Is this specific role included, and does the sponsorship decision apply to the immigration program involved?
- When will the policy begin, and how will IBM handle an existing H-1B or a pending green card case?
- If an overseas role is an option, what position, location and timing does IBM offer?
Workers with current or pending immigration matters should bring IBM’s answers and their case documents to an immigration lawyer. The company’s announcement does not determine an individual’s legal status or resolve what happens to a pending application.
